Tie plate and rail cushion retainer



Feb. 15, 1938. G. T. WILLARD.

TIE PLATE AND RAIL CUSHION RETAINER FlLed 00g. 25, 1955 OT; @0359 .T w/ar'd Patented Feb. 15, 1938 V UNITED STATES attain PATENT OFFECE 2,108,460 are rears AND nan. CUSHION RETAINER George T. Willard, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 25, 1935, Serial No. 46,710

17 Claims.

This invention relates to devices forholding railway tie plates in firm engagement with the top surface of cross ties and for retaining rail seat cushion members in proper position on the tie plates. r V

In railway constructions it is important that the tie plates be held firmly against the top surfaces of the cross ties in order to avoid wear on the cross ties. In some constructions, for example where the rails are supported on the tie plates with capacity for vertical movement relative to the plates, the plates are secured to-the cross ties by rail spikes other than those employed for retaining the rails on the tie plates. Such constructions not only involve the expense of the additional attaching devices, but also expose the cross ties to more rapid deterioration by reason of the additional spike holes formed therein to receive the additionalfastening devices and in which water and dirt may collect. It is also desirable, in some railroad constructions to employ rail seat cushions interposed between the base portions of the rails and the tie plates or other rigid members on which the rails are supported. The cushion members are usually in the form of thin inserts or shims made of compressedwood or of fiber plate or suitable compound. The said cushions function as shockabsorbing sound-deadening elements which, by a reason of their compressibility under the weight 7 of passing trains compensate for imperfect alignment of the bottom surface of a rail relative to the top surface of the tie plates and thereby avoid undue tilting of the rail and the resultant concentration of stresses at an edge portion of s the rail base.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a device of simplified construction for holding the tie plate in position on a cross tie and thereby avoid the vibration or pounding action of the plate on the cross tie when the rail moves upwardly from the tie plate. nection the invention contemplates the provision of a member formed to exert resilient pressure on the plate to hold it firmly against the top surface of the underlying cross tie when the base portion of the rail moves upwardly relative to the plate, for example, during the normal wave movement of the rail.

Another object is to provide a device of the above character which, in addition to its function as a tie plate holding member, vvill'retain a rail seat cushion of the abovegeneral character in its proper position between the base portion In this conof the track rail and the top surface of a tie plate or other rigid supporting member for the rail.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the construction and operation of the several embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a View partly in section and partly in elevation showing a device constructed in accordance with the invention applied in its operativeposition on a railway cross tie. I

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the manner in which the tie plate holding member provides abutments for opposite edges of a rail cushion.

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the combined tie plate holder and cushion retaining member shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

9 Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustratend portions of the holding device are provided U with means for interlocking with both the tie plate and the rail fastening device.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawing, l0 designates a railroad rail, of the tie plates on which the rail is supported a and I2 designates a cushion member interposed between the rail base and the top surface of the tie plate. The cushion member may be made of any desired thickness and of any material having suitable resilience and wearing qualities. 1

In the drawing, the cushion member i2 is shown in the form of a relatively thin rectangular piece 7 of compressed wood having a width corresponding to the width of the rail base and extending to the forward and rear edges l3l4, respectively, of the tie plate ll.

The tie plate H as shown in the drawing is of less Width than the cross tie and is provided on its top surface with upstanding shoulders l5-I6 U at opposite sides of the rail. The said shoulders serve as lateral abutments for the longitudinal edges of the rail base and likewise for the longitudinal edges of the cushion member 2. The tie plate may be secured to the top surface of a H one cross-tie ll in any suitable manner to prevent lateral movement thereon, for example, rail fastening spikes l8-il driven through apertures 28-25 formed in the plate in positions whereby the head portions of the spike members if! and I9 will project over the upper marginal portions of the rail base. The tie plate is preferably provided with four apertures. However, it is customary in some installations to use but two rail securing spikes. In such case the rail securing spikes are arranged in position diagonally across the plate in a manner indicated in Figs. 2, 5 and '7 of the drawing.

In certain track installations it has also been found desirable to so drive the rail retaining spikes into the cross tie as to provide suitable clearances 2222 between the under surface of the spike heads and the top surfaces of the rail base, whereby the rail is permitted to move vertically of the tie plate and cushion member dur ing the normal wave movements of the rail.

The rail cushion member I2 is held in proper position on the tie plate by means of a device which is so formed as to have a resilient interlocking engagement with portions of the tie plate and provides abutments for opposite edges of the rail cushion member. The said device is designated generally by the reference numeral 23 and consists of a resilient metal bar, preferably rectangular in cross-section, bent to form a rectangular loop or frame adapted to seat upon the top surface of the tie plate. The portion 24 of the said frame member is in the form of a yoke which extends across the top surface of the tie plate and provides shoulders 25-2ii which extend downwardly over the opposite edges l3-Hl of the tie plate to provide an interlocking engagement therewith. The said interlocking engagement of the said frame member with the tie plate makes it practicable to so form the device that it will have a substantial frictional bearing against the bottom surface of the rail base without likelihood of it being displaced on the tie plate by any longitudinal movement of the rail relative to said plate. The portions of device 23 which exert such resilient bearing against the bottom surface of the rail base are preferably in the form of resilient arms 2l--28 which extend across beneath the rail base. The said arms are so positioned in close relation to the edges I3M of the tie plate as to provide abutments for opposite ends of the rail cushion l2. The free ends of the arms are bent to provide portions 293l which overlie and bear against the top surfaces of the tie plate at the other side of the rail. The end portion 38, in addition to hearing against the top surface of the tie plate, is provided with a laterally disposed lug 3i adapted to hook over the shank portion of the rail fastening member it so as to provide additional means for holding the resilient arm 23 against the tie plate. The resilient arms 2l28 are preferably bowed downwardly at locations beneath the opposiite edges of the rail base, as indicated by numerals 32-33, but the upwardly curved central portions of said an s are normally pressed downwardly so as to bear fiat against the bottom surface of the rail base when the device is applied and are so positioned with relation to the parts 26, 29 and 38 overlying the tie plate that the said arms are depressed by their engagement with the bottom surface of the rail base when the device is fully applied to its operative position. The reflex of the arms 2'5-28, during the upward movements of the rail relative to the tie plate, insures firm resilient bearing of the device against the bottom surface of the rail and against the top surface of the tie plate at opposite sides of the rail. This resilient force serves to hold the tie plate firmly against the top surface of the cross tie ii and thereby avoids undue wear on the cross tie by preventing vibratory or pounding action of the plate on the tie during the passing of traiiic over the rail.

In applying the device above described to its operative position, the resilient arms 27-28 are spread apart a distance sufficient to permit the angular end portions 29-30 to engage over opposite edges of the tie plate or over the sides of the cross tie, as the case may be, at one side of the rail. The device is then driven or otherwise forced transversely of the rail until the said angular end portions of the arms assume such position at the other side of the rail that the angular portions 2930, when these end portions are raised above the tie plate, will snap over the upper surface thereof to lock the device in its applied position. The end portion 36 may be flexed outwardly from the rail to permit the hook portion 3! thereof to be engaged around the shank portion of the fastening member IS.

The combined tie plate holder and cushion retaining device above described has been illustrated in connection with a tie plate formed on its top surface with shoulder abutments for opposite edges of the base portion of the rail. It will be obvious, however, that the device can be readily used in connection with tie plates of various constructions.

The modified embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing is in all respects the same in construction as the device shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive except that the inturned end portions Mi --31! of the modified embodiment are somewhat longer than in the preceding embodiment and are provided with lugs 34, 35 which interlock with each other.

Inasmuch as the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 is the same in construction as the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, except as above l pointed out, the corresponding portions of the said device and the track assembly are designated by the same reference characters with the addition of an exponent a. The said modified embodiment may be and preferably is applied to its operative position in the same manner as that shown and described in connection with the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Referring now to the modifications shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing: The tie plate shown I in Fig. '7 may be a shoulder type of tie plate, such as shown in the preceding figures. However, for the purpose of illustrating certain features, the present modification is shown in connection with a tie plate having but one shoulder abutment, the said shoulder being designated [5 The tie plate is secured to an underlying cross tie by means of rail-retaining spike members l8 l9 the shank portion of the spike member l9 serving as a lateral abutment for one longitudinal edge of the cushion member l2 The retaining device shown in Fig. 6 consists of a spring metal bar formed at one end with a hook shaped portion 36 adapted to be forced into resilient gripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base at one side of the rail. The other end of the bar is formed with an upturned shoulder 31 for engagement with the other edge of the rail base. The hook end 36 of the bar and the shoulder 31 preferably effect a strong grip on opposite edges of the rail base and maintain the under rail portion of the device in close contact with the bottom surface of the rail. The shoulder end of the device is attached to the tie plate by means of an arm 38 and a downturns-d lug 39 thereon adapted to extend into the adjacent spike opening of the tie plate. The distance between the downturned lug 39 and the under rail portion of the device is such that they exert a resilient'clarnping engagement on the tie plate and thereby hold the under rail portion of the device in close relation to the edge of the tie plate to provide an abutment for one end portion of the rail cushion I2 The arm 38, preferablyyexerts resilient pressure on the top surface of the tie plate.

When applying the above device in connection with a shouldered tie plate the hook end 36 is first engaged over one edge of the rail base while the body of the device is disposed across the rail in a diagonal position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. In the said dotted line position of the de vice, the lower end of downturned lug 39 engages the top surface of the tie plate adjacent the shoulder l5 thereof. During the movement of the device from the dotted line position to the full line position shown in Fig. '7, the downturned lug 38 will pass along the shoulder l5 of the tie plate until it snaps into the adjacent spike opening of the plate. Themovement of the devices serves to pull the hooked end of the retaining device into tight engagement with the rail base. When the device is used in connection with a flat top plate, the arm 31 being arranged in close relation to the adjacent edge of the rail base and bearing against the top surface of the tie plate, serves together with the downturned lug 39 as a lateral abutment for the adjacent corner portion of the cushion member I2 The tie plate holding and rail cushion retaining device designated by the reference numeral is a further modification. This device corresponds substantially to-the lower half of the retaining device shown in Fig. 4, but includes a downturne-d lug at one of the ends of the device for effecting interlocking engagement with the tie plate. The said retaining device 40 consists preferably of an under-rail portion or abutment 28' provided with downwardly bowed portions 32 -33 adjacent opposite edges of the rail base and provided at one end with an arm 30' and angular lug 3| which overlie the tops of the tie plate; the lug 3| extending beneath the head of the rail spike Ni to prevent upwardtilting of the arms 24 and 30*, the said lug being adapted also to interlock with the shank portion of said fastening device i8 inthe same manner as described in connection with Fig. 2. The other end of the bar is, provided with an arm designated 24 provided with a downwardly bent lug 4! which corresponds in construction and function to the lug 39 of Fig. 6.

When the above embodiment is applied to a rail and tie plate, the under rail portion 28 of theretaining member exerts resilient pressure upwardly against the bottom surface of the rail base and the arms 24 and 30 exert downward pressure'on the top surface of the tie plate at opposite edges of the rail. The arm 24 is positioned relatively close to the edge of the rail base so as to'serve as a lateral abutment for the resilient cushion member it The preferred manner of applying the above device to its operative position is to insert the lug 4| of the arm 24 into the spike opening 2 at the left of Fig. 7..

The device is then swung across beneath the rail and the arm 30 is sprung over the top of the tie plate and forced to the position shown in Fig. '7.

I claim:

1. In combination with a railroad rail, a supporting cross-tie underlying the rail and a tieplate interposed between the base portion of the rail and the top surface of the cross tie; of means for holding said tie plate firmly against the top surface of the cross-tie during upward movement of the rail relative to the plate, comprising a resilient frame member having a side bar overlying and engaging the top of said tie plate at one side of the rail, a transverse bar connected with the side bar and extending beneath and engaging the bottom surface of the rail, and means at the free end of the transverse bar for supporting it against the bottom surface of the rail so as to be stressed by the weight of the rail.

2. In combination with a railroad rail, a supporting cross-tie underlying the rail and a tieplate interposed between the base portion of the rail and the top surface of said cross-tie; of means for holding said tie plate firmly against the top surface ofthe cross tie during upward movement of the rail relative to the plate comprising a resilient bar member having a portion to seat on said tie plate at one side of the rail and an angularly disposed arm connected with said portion and projecting under the rail base so as to be stressed by the weight of the rail, and means at the end of the angularly disposed arm for supporting it against the rail base.

3. In combination With a railroad rail, a sup-' porting cross-tie underlying the rail and a tieplate interposed between the base portion of the rail and the top surface of said cross-tie; of a resilient device for holding said tie plate in position on the cross-tie, comprising a bar bent to form an angular frame member having a portion overlying the top surface of said tie plate atone side of the rail and with portions extending across beneath the rail base at opposite edges of said plate and terminating in portions for overlying the top portion of the tie plate at the other side of the rail; the portions overlying the tie plate being positioned to exert pressure vertically of the. rail and said tie plate.

4. In combination with a railroad rail, a rigid supporting member underlying the rail and a cushion member interposed between the'base portion of, the rail and the top surface of said rigid underlying member, of a retaining device for holding said cushion member in position comprising resilient yoke member having spaced arms for embracing opposite vertical edges of the rigid underlying member and adapted to be driven transversely of the rail to its applied position, the said arms extending across beneath the rail base and formed at their free ends with angular portions adapted to be sprung over the top surface of said rigid underlying member at the other side of the rail.

5. In combination with a railroad rail, a supporting cross-tie, a tie plate and a cushion member interposed between the base portion ofthe rail and the top surface of the tie plate, of means for holding the tie plate firmly aganst the crosstie and for retaining the cushion member in position on the plate comprising a resilient frame provided with a yoke portion overlying the top surface of the tie plate and embracing opposite edges of the'plate to providean interlocking engagement therewith, and arms connected to the yoke portion and extending across beneath the rail base in resilient engagement with the bottom surface of the rail base and in abutting engagement with opposite ends of said cushion member, there being means at the free ends of the arms adapted to overlie the tie plate so as to support the arms against the rail base.

6. In combination with a railroad rail, a supporting cross-tie, a tie plate and a cushion member interposed between the base portion of the rail and the top surface of the tie plate, of a device for holding the tie plate against the crosstie and for retaining said cushion member in position on the plate comprising a resilient frame provided with a yoke portion overlying the top surface of the plate at one side of the rail and embracing opposite edges of the plate to provide an interlocking engagement therewith, and arms connected to the yoke portion and extending across beneath the rail base in resilient engagement with the bottom surface of the rail base and in abutting engagement with opposite ends of said cushion member; the free ends of said arms being formed with inturned portions which overlie the top face of the tie plate at the other side of the rail when the frame member is in its applied position.

7. In combination with a railroad rail, a crosstie, a tie plate and a cushion member interposed between the base portion of the rail and the top surface of the said tie plate, of means for holding the tie plate in engagement with the crosstie and for retaining said cushion in position on the plate comprising a resilient frame provided with a yoke portion overlying the top surface of the tie plate at one side of the rail and embracing opposite edges of the plate to provide an interlocking engagement therewith, resilient arms connected to the yoke portion of said frame and extending across beneath the rail base in resilient engagement with the bottom surface of the rail base and in abutting engagement with opposite ends of the cushion member; the free ends of said arms being formed with inwardly turned portions which overlie the top face of the tie plate at the other side of the rail, whereby the resilience of the frame exerts pressure on the tie plate.

8. In combination with a railroad rail, a tie plate, a cushion member interposed between the rail and the tie plate and means for securing the rail to said plate, of means for retaining said cushion member in position comprising a resillent frame having a portion overlying the top surface of the tie plate at one side of the rail and having spaced resilient arms which extend across beneath the rail base in abutting engagement with the opposite ends of said cushion member; the free ends of said arms being turned inwardly to project over the top face of the tie plate and hook means formed on one of said inwardly projecting ends adapted to hook over a portion of said rail securing means at that side of the rail.

9. In combination with a tie plate having a shoulder providing a lateral abutment for one longitudinal edge of a rail base, means for securing the rail in position on the plate, and a cushion member positioned between the rail base and the top face of the tie plate, a retaining device for holding said cushion member in position on the tie plate comprising a resilient bar extending across beneath the rail base in abutting engagement with said cushion, one end of the bar being formed with a hook portion overlying the top of the tie plate adjacent said shoulder and having locking engagement with said rail securing means and means at the other end of the bar adapted to project over the top face of the tie plate and having interlocking engagement with said plate.

10. In combination with a tie plate formed with a rail base abutting shoulder, means for securing the rail in position on the plate and a rail cushion member interposed between the base portion of the rail and the top surface of the tie plate, a retaining device for holding said cushion member in proper position comprising a resilient bar formed at one end with a hook portion extending over the top face of the tie plate and interlocked with said rail securing means and formed at the other end with a yoke portion for resiliently clamping opposite vertical edges of the tie plate to provide an interlocking engagement therewith; the intermediate portion of the bar being positioned beneath the rail base and adapted to be tensioned by application of the device to its applied position.

11. A device for retaining a rail cushion member between the base of a rail and the top face of a tie plate comprising a resilient frame adapted to seat upon portions of the tie plate and having portions extending beneath the rail base adapted to abut against the vertical edge portions of the tie plate and said cushion member.

12. A device for retaining a rail cushion member between the base portion of a rail and the top surface of a tie plate comprising an angular frame member formed with a portion for removable attachment to the tie plate and with a portion extending only transversely beneath the rail base at a location for abutting engagement with an edge portion of said cushion member.

13. A device for holding a tie-plate in position on a cross-tie and for retaining a rail cushion member between the base portion of a rail and the top surface of the tie plate comprising a cushion abutting member provided with a portion positioned transversely of the rail beneath the base thereof for engagement with an edge portion of said cushion and provided with a portion adapted to extend over the top of the tie plate at one side of the rail in a direction longitudinally of the rail, the last named portion being adapted to exert downward resilient pressure on the tie plate and formed with means for removably attaching the device to the tie plate.

14. A device for holding a tie plate in position on a cross-tie and for retaining a rail cushion member between the base portion of a rail and the top surface of a tie plate comprising a frame member provided with a portion positioned transversely of the rail beneath the base thereof for engagement with an edge portion of said cushion and provided with a portion adapted to extend over the top of the tie plate at one side of the rail in a direction longitudinally of the rail and having resilient clamping engagement with the plate.

15. A device for retaining a rail cushion between the top face of a tie plate and the base of a rail comprising a metal bar formed with a portion to extend across beneath the rail in close relation to an edge of the tie plate to provide an abutment for an edge of the rail cushion, one end of the bar being formed with means for engaging over one edge of the rail base and the other end of the bar being formed with a portion adapted to interlock with a portion of the tie plate.

16. A device for retaining a rail cushion between the top face of a tie plate and the base of a rail comprising a metal bar formed with a portion for extending across beneath the rail in close relation to an edge of the tie plate to provide an abutment for an edge of the rail cushion, one end of the bar being formed with means adapted to interlock with a portion of the tie plate and the other end of the bar being formed with means adapted to project over the top surface of the tie plate and into engagement with a rail fastening member.

for providing an interlocking engagement of said 10 end portions of the bar.

GEORGE T. WILLARD. 

